When Apple introduced the latest incarnation of its iMac G5 product line, the reactions were almost exclusively those of praise. They had managed to make the iMac G5 even thinner, while at the same time upgrading its specifications. Apple also introduced Front Row, a remote control, and a built-in iSight camera. MacSupport was so kind as to provide OSNews with this new iMac G5; here are our findings.

One thing that never gets mentioned in cost comparisons between Macs and Windows machines is the fact that Windows boxes need antivirus protection. For the major antivirus program publishers, this requires an annual subscription fee at some point. For example, Norton Antivirus provides virus updates for 12 months -- after that, you have to pay a subscription fee of $30/year. If you keep your computer for 3 years, that adds at least $60 to the price. More, if an antivirus isn't included with your computer and you have to buy an antivirus program in the first place.

Compare that to the Mac: because of OS X's Unix underpinnings, viruses are much much much less of an issue. I may be foolish, but my Mac has been connected to the internet via a broad band connection since Feb 2002 and I have never gotten a virus. Thus, I don't have to spend extra money on antivirus software.

I know that someone will bring up the "security by obscurity" argument, but (1) it seems that even security researchers have not come up with many OS X viruses with an equal threat level to the more malignant Windows viruses, and (2) I can't believe there isn't some hacker out there that wouldn't love to have the "First one to infect OS X" title.